Molokai

Template:Infobox Hawaiian island Molokaʻi (also Molokai) is an island in the Hawaiian archipelago. It is 38 by 10 miles (61 by 16 km) in size with a land area of 260.0 sq mi (673.4 km²), making it the fifth largest of the main Hawaiian Islands and the 27th largest island in the United States. It lies east of Oʻahu across the 25-mile (40 km) wide Kaiwi Channel and north of Lānaʻi, separated from it by the Kalohi Channel. The lights of Honolulu are visible at night from the west end of Molokaʻi, while nearby Lānaʻi and Maui are clearly visible from anywhere along the south shore of the Island.

Geography

Molokaʻi as seen from Kaʻanapali, Maui

Molokaʻi is built from two distinct volcanoes known as East Molokaʻi and the much smaller West Molokaʻi. The highest point is Kamakou on East Molokaʻi, at 4,970 feet (1,515 m). East Molokaʻi volcano, like Koʻolau on Oʻahu is today only what remains standing of the southern half of the original mountain. The northern half suffered a catastrophic collapse and now lies as a debris field scattered northward across the Pacific Ocean bottom while what remains on the island are the highest sea cliffs in the world. Views of these sea cliffs are presented in the movie Jurassic Park III. The south shore of Molokaʻi boasts the longest fringing reef of the US and its holdings—nearly 40 km long.

The mouth of Halawa Valley, located at the extreme east end of Molokaʻi

Molokaʻi is part of the State of Hawaii and located in Maui County, except for the Kalaupapa Peninsula, which is separately administered as Kalawao County. Maui County encompasses Maui, Lānaʻi, and Kahoʻolawe in addition to Molokaʻi. The largest town on the island is Kaunakakai, which is one of two small ports on the island. The airport is located on West Molokaʻi. The United States Census Bureau divides the island into three census tracts: Census Tract 317 and Census Tract 318 of Maui County, Hawaii, and Census Tract 319 of Kalawao County, Hawaii. The total 2000 census population of these was 7,404, living on a land area of 673.44 km² (260.02 sq mi).

Molokaʻi is separated from Oʻahu on the west by the Kaiwi Channel, from Maui on the southeast by the Pailolo channel, and from Lānaʻi on the south by the Kalohi Channel.

Ecology

Molokai is split into two main geographical areas. The low western half is very dry and the soil is heavily denuded due to grazing by goats and poor land management practices. It lacks much ground cover and virtually the entire section is covered in non-native Kiawe trees. One of the few natural areas remaining almost intact are the coastal dunes of Mo'omomi, which are a Nature Conservancy preserve.

The eastern half of the island is a high plateau rising up to an elevation of 4900 ft on Kamakou peak. The eastern half is covered with lush rainforest that get over 300 inches of rain per year. The high elevation forests are primarily native 'Ōhi'a lehua trees and an extremely diverse endemic flora and fauna in the understory. Much of the summit area is protected by the Nature Conservancy's Kamakou and Pelekunu valley preserves. Below 4,000 ft, the vegetation changes into a primarily exotic flora of guava, eucalyptus, and cypress. Introduced axis deer and wild pigs roam the native forests, destroying native plants, expanding exotic plants through disturbance and distribution of their seeds, and threatening endemic insects. Near the summit area there is the unique Pepeopae bog, where miniature ohias and other plants coat the soggy ground.

Molokai is home to a great number of endemic plant and animal species. However, many of its species, including the Oloma'o, Molokai Creeper, and the Molokaʻi ʻŌʻō have become extinct. Molokai also has a wingless fly among many endemic insects.

Culture

Sign greeting visitors to Molokaʻi at exit to airport.

Molokaʻi is known as the "Friendly Isle" and is one of the least developed of the main Hawaiian islands.

The island's population is diverse, with a high percentage of people of Hawaiian ancestry. Molokaʻi is noted for the numerous Hawaiian fish ponds along its south shore. Some of these have been restored in recent years. Molokaʻi is also the oldest site for sufferers of leprosy in the United States (the leper colony at Kalaupapa), which became widely known through the work of Father Damien.

There are several small hotels in Kaunakakai and a resort located on the west end. Pāpōhaku Beach on the western-facing shore is one of the largest and most spectacular beaches in the Hawaiian Islands.

The population of Molokaʻi today ranges between 6,000 to 8,000 depending on the seasonal tourism on the island. Kirby Wright based his novel Moloka'i Nui Ahina on the life and times of his paniolo (cowboy) grandmother who lived on the east end of the island.

Towns and villages

• Kaunakakai
• Kualapuu
• Maunaloa
• Kalaupapa

External links

• Official Visitors Association website
• The Molokai Dispatch, local Molokaʻi print and electronic newspaper, http://www.themolokaidispatch.com
• Molokaʻi's Daily Newspaper

21°08′N 157°02′W